Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Going 'Cruelty-Free'. Anyone care to join me?

55 replies

ILoveMakeUp · 14/09/2013 10:13

I love my expensive make-up and skincare, but lately I have been feeling increasingly uneasy about animal testing. A brief look on the Peta website has convinced me that I don't want animals to suffer for my vanity.

So, I have decided to go Cruelty-Free. I am using up the products that I already have, but I will only replace them with cruelty-free products. I am trying to get a list together of companies whose products I like that don't test on animals and have come up with the following so far:

Make-up: Stila
Hair: Aveda
Skincare: ??? (especially looking for something 'high end').

OP posts:
Original poster
ILoveMakeUp · 14/09/2013 13:59

OK, so I have found two cruelty-free skincare brands, if anyone's interested.

Liz Earle
Burt's Bees.

OP posts:
NewNameforNewTerm · 14/09/2013 14:05

Already with you, but I'd be really interested in people sharing brands and their opinions of products. I want be eco and animal friendly, but I still want effective products.

Don't forget household cleaners in the equation (I know it is not really style and beauty!)

VerySmallSqueak · 14/09/2013 14:08

I have been using dr organics and faith in nature stuff for my hair and love both - sure they do other stuff,like face care, in the range.

GobblersKnob · 14/09/2013 15:39

Hmmm Liz Earle is not that straightforward, It is owned by Avon, who were cruelty free for years, but then resumed testing so they could sell to China.

MissPlumBroughtALadder · 14/09/2013 15:42

Everything on beingcontent.com is high end, cruelty free and eco friendly. I get all my cosmetics etc from them. The Rahua shampoo is particularly good.

LadyGooGoo · 14/09/2013 15:45

Urban Decay used to be (haven't they been bought out by someone though?).
A lot of Superdrug and Sainsburys own brand stuff is cruelty free, as is the Original Company (sellers of mint and tree tree stuff etc.)
Would love to be more disciplined about this...about half my stuff is still 'cruel' so would love to hear of any other alternatives available easily.

MrsMongoose · 14/09/2013 15:49

All Lush products are cruelty free. I love their makeup.

chickensaresafehere · 14/09/2013 15:51

I used to have a link to a website that listed all the cruelty free companies,but lost it.So from memory,the ones I can remember are -
Lush,Neals Yard,Burts Bees,Aveda,Aldi,Superdrug,M&S
If I think of more I'll post again Smile

BikeRunSki · 14/09/2013 15:52

I love Origins, but now too pricey for me, so I.now use Faith in Nature.

FluffyDucky · 14/09/2013 15:54

Urban Decay were bought by L'Oréal last year I think.

chickensaresafehere · 14/09/2013 15:54

Oh& beauty without cruelty do some fab stuff!!

MillyMollyMandy78 · 14/09/2013 16:00

I struggle to find good, long lasting cruelty free make up. Tried beauty without cruelty but found the products awful, so any ideas would be great! Skincare and other toiletries i get from superdrug

practicality · 14/09/2013 16:57

Make-up- Beauty without Cruelty their loose power is excellent but give the foundations a swerve unless mud orange is the look you are after. The lipsticks are fine but tend towards pale and shimmery/beige. They did my favourite natural shade for years, toffee apple ( perfect warm brown with pink tone)but have now discontinued it. The eyeliners are a bit hard to apply and the mascara is very natural, which isn't my thing...

Elysambre - is really good. The matt lipsticks are really pigmented and their other products finely milled.

Barry M - are cruelty free and easy to get hold of. Some of their products are vegan too.

Hair-faith in nature and JASON is good. I have a bit of a thing for their tea tree stuff as it smells divine.

Deodorant- salt of the earth- this actually works and lasts for ages.

Perfume- Lush- SIKKIM GIRLS. I adore this.

Soap- Suma soaps. They all smell scrumptious.

JASON products for skin are good too.

practicality · 14/09/2013 16:59

Try ethical superstore.

LadyGooGoo · 14/09/2013 17:03

These are fantastic! Didn't realise Barry M were vegan practicality, love cheap stuff!

Thanks to FluffyDucky too...thought they had been bought out (fortunately my stuff is so old, it can still be officially called cruelty free!)

NewNameforNewTerm · 14/09/2013 18:10

I've tried quite a few JASON products and just can't get on with their smell. It actually spells very artificial to me and give me a headache. Same goes for Lush. I can't even walk past without feeling sick. :(

I didn't know BarryM was vegan, is it low/free of nasty chemicals as well? That's also a priority for me.

I was browsing in L'Occitane today and knew one of their creams had won green beauty awards, with three daisies from Beauty Bible. So I thought I'd look at their shampoos. Don't get caught out! Reading the back of the bottle it has the nasties I try and avoid as the first ingredients.

So far my favourite is the Dr Organics stuff.

areaGL51 · 14/09/2013 18:19

Oooo, I only buy cruelty-free too and I'm so pleased to see this thread!

I stick to Superdrug own brand, Marks & Spencer, Neals Yard, Lush, Lavera. Sainsbury own toiletries have the BUAV logo (unlike their cleaning products).

Urban Decay went into China, which means cosmetics have to be tested on animals, ridiculously. What a shame.

meditrina · 14/09/2013 18:29

I've been using Beauty Without Cruelty cosmetics since the 1980s.

HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs · 14/09/2013 18:51

Noone has mentioned Body Shop so far - is that for a reason?
Tesco own brand cosmetics/toiletries are cruelty free.

NewNameforNewTerm · 14/09/2013 18:55

Is Bodyshop still as ethical since it was sold? I know it is not as eco and it still has some of the ingredients I avoid.

TallulahBetty · 14/09/2013 18:57

Body Shop is cruelty-free.

I recommend MUA at Superdrug for make up - don't test on animals and don't even ship to China for that reason. Excellent quality for a cheap brand.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 14/09/2013 19:00

I've been a vegetarian since I was 14yo (I'm now 47)
I started off with BWC then Barry M and The Body Shop.

Then when I got a bit older (and more money) Aveda.
Now I like Mally, some of the Barry M, M&S .

I think Lipstick Queen are vegetarian but not vegan as they use beeswax

The rules have changed loads over the years, there was a Cut Off point but yes it is disheartening when brands like Liz Earle and Body Shop change hands and their ethos changes.

I also buy non leather handbags by choice and try to buy as much non leather footwear as I can but the more you go down the road , the more difficult it is.
I've never been a vegan for example, that's a whole new level.

areaGL51 · 14/09/2013 21:23

Body Shop is owned by L'Oreal. :-(

BUAV's and PETA's cut-off date is 1985.

I've been vegan for many years and it's a lot easier than people think! Avoiding leather, for example, is easy, I promise!

breakingbadaddict · 14/09/2013 21:33

Paula's choice is a good skincare company
Paul Mitchell hair care
Amie skincare
Lily LiLo make up
Co-op! Get all my cleaning stuff from them & Astonish

Pannacotta · 14/09/2013 21:37

I am pretty sure Stila and Aveda are owned by Estee Lauder which is not cruelty free.
This charity does a good guide to cruelty free products.
naturewatch.org/compassionate-shopping

I like Faith in nature for hair products and M&S for beauty, Coop, Dri Pak and Astonish for cleaning materials.